My Notes

My Notes

A whole roast like this evokes a party for me–a couple more dishes such as eggplant involtini and a frittata with herbs, and you have a springtime feast. I like lamb medium-rare, not bloody, but if you want it rare, cook it for about 15 minutes less at 375°F, to an internal temperature of 115°F.

Ingredients

One 5-pound leg of lamb, boned and butterflied (have the butcher do this)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cups dry white wine

1 cup green sicilian olives

12 shallots

1 cup pitted prunes

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, onion, garlic, lemon, and rosemary. Add the lamb, turning to coat. Cover and let marinate overnight in the refrigerator, turning occasionally.

Preheat the oven to 450°F.

Remove the lamb from the marinade and season liberally with salt and pepper (discard the marinade). Place the lamb fat side down on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour 1 cup of the wine into the pan and scatter the olives, shallots, and prunes around the lamb.

Place in the oven and roast for 45 minutes. Lower the heat to 375°F, turn the lamb over, and cook for about 30 minutes more, or until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the leg reads 135°F. Transfer the lamb to a cutting board and allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Meanwhile, pour the contents of the roasting pan into a 4-quart saucepan. Deglaze the roasting pan with the remaining 1 cup wine, scraping up the browned bits in the bottom of the pan, and add to the saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes to thicken slightly.

Slice the lamb and arrange on warmed plates. Spoon some sauce over each portion, and serve the remainder on the side.